Last year, Chris and I walked a long road of transition that included seeking a new job, leaving an old familiar city, selling our house in Georgia (which took 11 months), and settling into life in a new city. There were many long moments of uncertainty, and there were many days we doubted our decisions.

This past year was one of the hardest in our marriage, and we walked it by leaning on our circles of support. As a way to unpack the last year, I keep thanking God for all the people on my litany of gratitude list, who were part of our circle of support this past year. People amazed and overwhelmed me time and time again.

October hiking retreat, day 3, sunset on Lake Ontario.

One such woman is Laurie Marshanke, who I met through my work with Charis Ministries. Several months after meeting her, Laurie, hearing of my family’s transition and the struggles of my kids with moving, offered her annual retreat for my family.   It still moves me to tears that Laurie prayed for my family through her entire hiking trip.  While she knows me, she does not know Chris, Brady, or Abby; however, I feel she knows them in spirit!

The picture is Mesa Moment that Laurie shared with me from her hiking retreat.  I am moved by this picture because it capture our last year.  At times, it felt very dark, but there was always a glimpse of light that came from someone else radiating hope for us.  Laurie was one of those people for me.  Her prayers uplifted my spirit, and I firmly believe her prayers helped my hubby and my kids in their transition as well.

I believe in the power of prayer, and Laurie’s prayer offering for my family reminds me of the power of prayer. So today, who needs our prayers?

Becky Eldredge

Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and writer. She is the author of the Busy Lives and Restless Souls (March 2017, Loyola Press) and The Inner Chapel (April 2020, Loyola Press). She helps others create space to connect faith and everyday life through facilitating retreats and days of reflection, through writing, and through spiritual direction. With nearly twenty years of ministry experience within the Catholic Church, Becky seeks to help others discover God at work in the every day moments of people’s lives by utilizing St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and the many gifts that our Catholic faith and Ignatian Spirituality provide.